It has been a stressful couple of weeks in the Orbost region due to COVID-19 scare, however all is clear.

While stage three restrictions will be reintroduced as of tomorrow, the local community can rest assured there are no positive COVID cases in the area despite an infected Melbourne resident attending numerous local venues on the weekend of July 18-19.

(ORH), with the support of Latrobe Regional Health, set up a popup testing clinic at Lochiel Park to conduct tests on people deemed close contacts and those who attended the establishments the infected person was seen at.

More than 350 test were taken, all returning negative, while the 13 people deemed close contacts were retested 11 days after their initial test, also all returning negative.

“This is fantastic news for our little town but serves as a timely reminder to us all,” ORH said in a statement.

“We need to continue to practice hand hygiene often, wear a mask when out and about (mandatory as of Monday), keep 1.5 metres apart from others, stay home if unwell and phone the medical clinic if you have any cold or flu symptoms so that we can organise to have you tested for coronavirus.”

The news comes a positive to business owners at the Marlo Hotel, Leon Palace and Snowy River Bait and Tackle, who had served the infected person and undertook deep cleans before reopening.

Numerous other businesses also shut their doors while awaiting results while school attendance dropped.